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Scouting report: Chiefs trade for rookie OT Diego Pounds
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- Scouting report: Chiefs trade for rookie OT Diego Pounds
The Kansas City Chiefs continue to address concerns about their offensive line depth. Just days after trading for New York Giants guard Joshua Ezeudu , the Chiefs sent a 2028 conditional sixth round pick to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for rookie undrafted free agent Diego Pounds. Pounds played left tackle for the Ole Miss Rebels last season.
Pounds put together three quality preseason performances for the Ravens , allowing zero pressures. Baltimore felt comfortable trading Pounds for two reasons. First, the team invested no draft capital when acquiring him as an undrafted free agent. Second, the presence of second-year offensive tackle Carson Vinson blocked Pounds from having a chance at winning the swing tackle role.
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Pounds is an imposing 6'6", 325 lb. left tackle with 33 3/4" arms and three years of significant starting experience split between Ole Miss and North Carolina. After inconsistent performances in 2023 and 2024, Pounds allowed zero official sacks and only committed two fouls on more than 1,000 snaps in 2025.
Pounds offers the ideal combination of size, mass and arm length for his position. He gains adequate depth and width in his kick slide to meet rushers from most alignment widths. When he times his strikes well, Pounds locks defenders out of his frame and displays a stout anchor capable of maintaining the pocket's integrity. Defenders rarely win through his center of mass once he engages his hands.
Pounds' aggression in the run game varies. When fully committed to wrecking the defensive game plan, he possesses the strength to uproot and displace edge rushers. He latches down on defenders before pinning them inside on off-tackle runs or twisting them out of gaps. Despite his large frame, Pounds displays quality speed when climbing or reaching landmarks in space.
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Technical flaws and inconsistencies riddle Pounds' game. His strike placement and timing expose his chest to defenders, which puts his anchor at risk. His naturally high pad level also contributes to this issue. Balance concerns and stretches of uninspiring physicality in the run game popped up on Pounds' college tape. Fortunately, quality coaching can fix many of these concerns.
Coincidentally, Pounds faced Chiefs preseason star rookie pass rusher R Mason Thomas in college last season. Thomas got the better of the matchup, but Pounds won several clashes with his superior size and mass.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Scouting report: Chiefs trade for rookie OT Diego Pounds
